Can retaining means



March 17, 1964 R. G. HUGHES 3,125,278

CAN RETAINING MEANS Filed May a, 1961 a Sheets-Sheet 1 ,I w '22 INVENTOR 28 FIG-.7. ROBERT G. Hum/e5 whim,

ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 HUGHES 3,125,278

CAN RETAINING MEANS Filed May 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 INVENTOR ROBERT GJlus/les 33 35 ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 R. G. HUGHES CAN RETAINING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1961 m m Q a L L L 5 8 a a a 5 I o m a T- 4 m m B a C 6 1 9 O 4 a b M a Q a f G 3 1 L. 4 A f 6 J 1- J r S I m R Q 5 m 4 ROBERT "(Miles w m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,125,278 CAN RETAINING MEANS Robert G. Hughes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in can retaining means, and more particularly to a novel can holder for holding a minimum of two cans to define an easily handleable package.

For display and merchandising purposes, it is desirable that cans and other containers be packaged in multiple units. The advantages of this are numerous and include the fact that a combined offer may readily be presented by forming a readily handleable package of two or more containers which are to be sold together. Also, the package can be formed of a suitable holder which receives portions of the containers to be merchandised, and the holder may be formed of suitable material wherein it may be provided with desired ornamentation to present an extremely pleasing package which will be acceptable to the consumer.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel can holder which will receive at least two cans, with portions of the cans projecting out of the can holder so that the contents of the cans may be readily determined, and the can holder being formed of a paper product which may be readily ornamented so as to provide an extremely pleasing and acceptable package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel holder for two or more cans, the holder being in the form of a horizontally disposed tube which is vertically elongated, the height of the tube being substantially equal to the height of the cans to be carried thereby and substantially half of each of the outermost cans being disposed within the tube, and there being disposed Within the tube downwardly and upwardly projecting locking flaps which will engage behind the projecting portions of the ends of the cans to interlock the cans with the holder and thus form a rigid package.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an extremely simple holder for two or more containers of the type having recessed ends and projecting end portions, the holder being formed of an inexpensive paper product which is provided at its upper and lower ends with inwardly directed locking flaps adapted to engage the ends of the containers and the projecting portions of the ends for retaining the containers within the holder,

and each of the locking flaps being connected to a reinforcing flap secured to the main portion of the holder, with the connection between the reinforcing flap and the locking flap urging the respective locking flap into the necessary engagement with the container end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel can holder which is formed of a relatively inexpensive material and at the same time, has an attractive appearance, the can holder being formed of a paper or paperboard product having a facing thereon, the can holder being generally tubular in outline with the axis of the tube being horizontally disposed andthe can holder being generally vertically elongated, and the vertical portions of the can holder having inturned reinforcing flaps which present the facing surface of the paper product from which the can holder is formed, and there being disposed at the upper and lower ends of the can holder inturned locking flaps which also have the facing portions of the paper product exposed, the reinforcing flaps and the locking flaps serving to enhance the internal appearance of "ice the holder, with the locking flaps also serving to retain the cans interlocked with the holder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel package which includes a holder and two containers, the containers being of the type having recessed ends and projecting end portions, the holder being in the form of a sleeve receiving substantially one-half of each of the containers and being provided at the upper and lower ends thereof with inwardly directed locking flaps which engage the ends of the containers and the projecting portions thereof to interlock the containers with the holder, thereby providing the desired package.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel blank from which a container holder may be formed, the blank being formed from an elongated, generally rectangular strip, the strip being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel fold lines which divide the same into a central portion and outer flap defining portions, the strip being provided with transverse fold lines dividing the central portion into side Wall defining portions and top and bottom wall defining portions, and a connecting flap, whereby the central portion of the blank may be readily folded and secured into a tubular form, and the fiap defining portions being dividable into reinforcing flaps and locking flaps which are swingable into the interior of the assembled holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel holder for containers, such as cans, wherein there are recessed ends and projecting end portions, the holder including top and bottom walls and side walls with open ends, each of the side walls being provided at opposite edges thereof with inwardly directed reinforcing flaps and each of the top and bottom walls being provided at the opposite edges thereof withinwardly directed locking flaps, each of the locking flaps being connected to an adjacent one of the reinforcing flaps by means of a web, with the connection between the reinforcing flap and its respective locking flap urging the locking flap away from its respective one of the top and bottom walls and into the desired locking engagement with a container when it is disposed within the holder, the top and bottom walls being connected to the side walls along fold lines, each of the webs bridging one of the fold lines and being provided with a fold line which is disposed in slightly offset relation with respect to its fold line whereby the necessary folding of the web may be accomplished with- 'out placing undue stress on the material of the holder A detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first form of package in accordance with this invention, and shows the general relationship between the holder of the package and the containers carried by the holder.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and shows the relationship of the upper portions of the con tainers with respect to the upper portion of the holder.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the vertical center of the holder of FIGURE 1, and shows the general details of construction thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3 and with the containers in place and shows the specific details of the interlock between the containers and the upper locking flaps of the holder.

FIGURE 5 is aplan view of the blank from which the holder is formed.

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of a blank from which a modified form of holder is formed, the view being on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 showing the relationship of the hOlder formed from the blank of FIGURE 6, and a pair of containers interlocked therewith.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 8- 8 of FIGURE 7, and shows the relationship of the upper locking flaps with the upper ends of the containers.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, wherein there is illustrated a first form of package, generally referred to by the numeral 10. The package 10' is formed of a holder, generally referred to by the numeral 11, and a pair of containers, the containers being illustrated in the form of :cans C. The cans C have recessed ends 12 defined by projecting end portions 13 in the form of the usual chines.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 5, wherein there is illustrated a blank 14 from which the holder 11 is formed. The blank 14 is formed of an elongated strip which is generally rectangular in outline. A pair of longitudinal fold lines 15, 16 extend substantially the full length of the blank 14 and divide the blank 14 into a-central portion and outer flap defining portions.

Each outer flap defining portion is provided with three cutouts 17, 1 8, 19. Each cutout 17, 18, 19 is generally V-shaped and is defined by a straight edge portion 20- and a curved edge portion 21. The cutouts 17, 1'8, 19 in effect define a first reinforcing flap 22, a first locking fiap 23, a second reinforcing flap 24, and a second locking flap along each edge of the blank 14. Adjacent ones of the reinforcing flaps and locking flaps are connected together by webs 26.

The blank 14 is provided with a transverse fold line 27 which extends entirely across the blank between the cutouts 17 with the portion of the blank between the fold .lines 15 and '16 and set off by the fold line 27 defining a side wall 28. A second transverse fold line 29 extends generally between the cutouts 1 8 and together with the fold lines 15, 16 and 27 define a top Wall 30. A third transverse fold line 31 extends generally between the cutouts 19 and together with the fold lines 15, 16 and 29 defines a side wall 32. A fourth fold line 33 extends transversely of the blank 14 adjacent the end thereof opposite from the side wall 28 and together with the fold lines .15, 1-6 and 31 defines a bottom wall 34. The fold line 33' also sets off a connecting flap 35.

For the purpose of this invention, it is pointed out that the blank 14 may be formed of any relatively inexpensive material, although in the preferred form of the blank, it will be [formed from a paper or paperboard product which is provided with a facing surface and a plain surface, with the facing surface, of course, being disposed outermost.

Suitable adhesive is applied to the plain surface of the blank, and the flaps 22, 23, 24 and 25 are folded along the fold lines 15, 16 into overlying relation to the central portion of the blank, with the flaps 22 and 24 being secured to the side walls 28 and 32, respectively. The partially folded blank is then folded into a tubular shape, and the connecting flap 35 is adhesively secured to the lower end of the side wall 28 on the inner surface thereof. In this condition, as is best shown in FIGURE 3, the locking flaps 23 are folded inwardly in underlying relation with respect to the top wall 30 and the locking flaps 25 are folded inwardly in overlying relation with respect to the bottom wall 34. Since the locking flaps 25 are connected to the reinforcing flaps 22 and 24 by the webs 26, and the locking flaps 25 are connected to the reinforcing flaps 24 by others of the .webs 26, it will be seen that when the holder 11 is folded into its final package forming shape, the locking flaps 23 and 25 are urged slightly away from their respective top and bottom walls for proper engagement with container ends and the interlocking thereof with the projecting portions of the containers.

Reference is again made to FIGURE 5, wherein it is pointed out that each of the webs 26 is in the form of an extension of its adjacent reinforcing flap. The straight line 20 of each cutout defines an end of the reinforcing flap, and the curved line of each cutout defines the end of the respective locking flap. Thus, the ends or edges of the locking flaps and the reinforcing flaps intersect. The respective transverse fold lines extend across the webs 26.

The internal height of the holder 11 is substantially equal to the height of the containers to be packaged therein. The package 10 is easily formed by sliding the two containers therein rfirom opposite ends. As each container, for example a can C, is slid into the holder 11, the respective ones of the locking flaps 23, 25 are engaged by the projecting portions or chines 13 and are urged towards the top and bottom walls 30, 34. When the containers have reached their fully telescoped positions of FIGURE 4, the curvature of the edges or ends of the locking flaps 23, 25 corresponds to the curvature of the ends of the container and snap down into the areas defined by the projecting end portions or chines 1 3. At this time, a rigid interlock is provided between the holder 11 and the containers, such as the cans C, to define the package 10.

As was previously pointed out, it is preferred that the blank 14 be in the form of a paper or paperboard product having a facing surface and a plain surface, with the [facing surface to be disposed outermost in the finished holder 11.. The reinforcing flaps 22, 24, when folded inwardly and secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls 28, 32 along the vertical edges thereof provide a suitable lining or facing for these side walls. Likewise, the locking flaps 23, 25 provide a suitable lining or facing for the top and bottom walls of the holder. Thus, substantially all of the exposed portions of the holder 11 has the facing of the blank 14 exposed. It is to be understood that the holder 11 may be provided with any indicia 'or ornamentation desired and that this indicia and/or ornamentation may be applied to the blank while in its flat form.

A slightly modified form of package, generally referred to by the numeral 40, is illustrated in FIGURE 7. The package 40' includes a modified form of holder, generally referred to by the numeral 41, and a pair of containers, such as the can C. The containers are interlocked with the holder 41 to provide a rigid package, as in the case of the package 10.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 6, wherein there is illustrated a blank, generally referred to by the numeral 42, from which the holder 41, is formed. The blank 42, like the blank 14, is formed from an elongated, generally rectangular strip of material and is provided with two longitudinally extending fold lines 43 and 44 which divide the blank into a central portion and two outer flap defining portions.

The portions of the blank 42 disposed outwardly of the fold lines 43, 44 are configurated to define on opposite sides of the blank, a first reinforcing flap 45, a generally semi-circular locking flap 46 and a narrow connecting web 47 extending therebetween. A second reinforcing flap 48 is spaced longitudinally from the locking flap 46 and is connected to a second semi-circular locking flap 49 by a web 50.

The central portion of the blank 42 extends beyond the second locking flaps 49 and terminates in a connecting flap 5 1. The connecting flap 51 is defined by borders of the blank 42 and a transverse fold line 52. A second transverse fold line 53 extends between the longitudinal fold lines 43, 44 and together with the fold lines 43, 44 and '52 defines a bottom wall 54. The bottom wall 54 is generally coextensive with the locking flaps 49. ,The webs 5a are provided with fold lines 55 which are disposed parallel to, but slightly offset from, the fold line 53.

A transverse fold line 56 extends between the fold lines '43, 44 in longitudinally spaced relations with respect to the fold line 53 and together with the fold lines 43, 44 and 53 defines a side wall 57. The fold line 56 intersects the fold lines 43, 44 along the area between the locking flaps 46 and the reinforcing flaps 43.

Another transverse fold line 58 extends between the fold lines 43, 44 generally in alignment with the webs 47. The fold line 5%, together with the fold lines 43, 44 defines a top wall 59. Transverse fold lines 6% also extend across the Webs 47 in parallel, but slightly offset, relation with respect to the fold line 58.

The fold line 58 also sets off at the end of the blank 42 remote from the connecting flap 51 a side wall 61 which is defined by an end of the blank 42 and the fold lines 4 3:, 44 and 58. It is to be noted that the reinforcing flaps 45 are substantially coextensive with the side walls 61 while the reinforcing flaps 48 are substantially coextensive with the side wall 57. Also, the locking flaps 4 6 are substantially coextensive 'with the top wall 59.

It is to be understood that the blank 42 is also preferably formed of a paper or paperboard product. In the preferred form of the invention, the blank 42 will have a facing surface and a plain surface. The blank 42, in forming the holder 41, will be folded so that the facing surface thereof will be disposed outermost at all times.

In forming the holder 41, suitable adhesive is applied to the plain portions of the blank 42 and the blank is :folded along the fold lines 43, 44. The reinforcing flaps 45, 48 will then be adhesively secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls 61, 57, respectively, in overlying relation with respect thereto. At the same time, the locking flaps 46 will be folded into overlying relation with respect to the top wall defining portion 59 and the locking flaps 49 into overlying relation with respect to the bottom wall 54. In the final assembly of the holder 41, the connecting flap 51 is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the side walls 61 at the lower part thereof.

Both the holder '11 and the holder 41 may normally be folded to relatively flat states for shipment and storage. When it is desired to utilize the holder 41, it is folded from its flat state to its open tubular state, at which time it is ready for the reception of a pair of containers, such as the cans C. When the cans C, for example, are slid into the open ends of the holder 41, the projecting portions or chines .13 thereof will engage the locking flaps 46, 49 and urge the same towards their respective top and bottom walls of the holder 41. When the cans C are fully inserted within the holder 41 in the positions illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the locking flaps 46, 49 will snap down into the recessed ends of the cans C to the positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 7, at which time the cans C are interlocked with the holder 41 to form the package 40.

At this time, it is pointed out that although the interlocks between the containers and the holders 11 and 41 are rigid ones so as to form desirable packages, such as the packages'ltl and 40, the containers can be individually removed from the holders by pulling on the containers and rupturing the locking flaps of the holders.

With respect to the holder 41, by offsetting the fold lines 55 of the webs 50 with respect to the fold line 53 and by offsetting the fold line 60 of the web 47 with respect to the fold lines 58, When the partially assembled g blank is completely assembled and opened up to define the holder 41, no undue stress will be placed on the corners of the holder which will normally cause rupture thereof. Therefore, the ofisetting of the fold lines 55 and 6d does provide a definite advantage.

No attempt has been made to show ornamentation or indicia on the holders 11 and 41, in that the indicia and ornamentation will vary depending upon the particular product being packaged and the particular distributor. Also, it is to be understood that the sizes of the holders may be varied to accommodate containers of various sizes.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example packages, holders and blanks disclosed 'herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for forming a holder for containers comprising an elongated generally rectangular strip, spaced parallel fold lines extending longitudinally of said strip, said spaced parallel fold lines dividing said strip into a central portion and outer flap defining portions at each side of said central portion, each of said flap defining portions having longitudinally spaced substantially V-shaped cutouts separating said flap defining portions into alternating locking flaps and reinforcing flaps, the V-shaped cutouts being defined by intersecting end edges of adjacent reinforcing and locking flaps, transverse fold lines extending across said strip and terminating at positions longitudinally offset from the apices of the V-shaped cutouts at end edges of the reinforcing flaps, and said apices each terminating short of an adjacent one of the longitudinal fold lines to form narrow substantially triangular webs separating adjacent locking and reinforcing flaps.

2. A blank for forming a holder for containers comprising an elongated generally rectangular strip, spaced parallel fold lines extending longitudinally of said strip, said spaced parallel fold lines dividing said strip into a central portion and outer flap defining portions at each side of said central portion, each of said flap defining portions having longitudinally spaced substantially U- shaped cutouts separating said flap defining portions into locking flaps and reinforcing flaps, each of the U-shaped cutouts being defined by end edges of adjacent reinforcing and locking flaps terminating at a bight edge portion between said end edges, each bight edge portion being spaced from a longitudinally extending fold line to define therewith a Web extending the length of the bight edge portion, transverse fold lines extending across said strip and terminating at said longitudinal fold lines at positions transversely spaced from the :bight edge portions of the U-shaped cutouts, each of said webs defining a substantially rectangular area, and each of the Webs being provided with a transverse fold line parallel to and adjacent to, but slightly longitudinally offset from respective ones of the transverse fold lines extending across said strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,888,135 Guyer May 26, 1959 2,931,490 McGihon Apr. 5, 1960 2,936,069 Dunning Nov. 10, 1960 3,005.546 Sanford Oct. 24, 1961 

1. A BLANK FOR FORMING A HOLDER FOR CONTAINERS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED GENERALLY RECTANGULAR STRIP, SPACED PARALLEL FOLD LINES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID STRIP, SAID SPACED PARALLEL FOLD LINES DIVIDING SAID STRIP INTO A CENTRAL PORTION AND OUTER FLAP DEFINING PORTIONS AT EACH SIDE OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, EACH OF SAID FLAP DEFINING PORTIONS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED CUTOUTS SEPARATING SAID FLAP DEFINING PORTIONS INTO ALTERNATING LOCKING FLAPS AND REINFORCING FLAPS, THE V-SHAPED CUTOUTS BEING DEFINED BY INTERSECTING END EDGES OF ADJACENT REINFORCING AND LOCKING FLAPS, TRANSVERSE FOLD LINES EXTENDING ACROSS SAID STRIP AND TERMINATING AT POSITIONS LONGITUDINALLY OFFSET FROM THE APICES OF THE V-SHAPED CUTOUTS AT END EDGES OF THE REINFORCING FLAPS, AND SAID APICES EACH TERMINATING SHORT OF AN ADJACENT ONE OF THE LONGI- 